The National tribune., 1887-03-10
ALITTLEG GIRL IN DIXIE
How Her Papa Stayed Thirty Days
ina Garret.
BY ADA F. STRICKLAND, owENsvrnLE IND.

live 10 be as old-well, as old as some OF th'se
old hoav servants of Gen. Washington, so many
of whom have died In the last 10 years. ex-
pect 10 tell it 10 my great grandehlldren as
tell IL 10 you If j live long enough, and was
only a little mite of girl just eight years old,
when Il an happened. ] didn't know what IL
was All about, hut knew there had been
great excitement i'm town for some time.
There had been something they called con-
veption held in the old academy, and my
father made a speech. j heard him. but ne
was always making speeches, being lawyer,
so that didn't make as much impression ON my
mind as the fact that there since had been
great parading through the streets OF our
town boys, dressed in gray coats ana
pants with stripes on them with hie ana
drum az their head. They called themselves
the Home Guard" And once regiment OF
real soldiers had passed through the town, yell
ing and screaming for JEFF Davis aud shooting
their guns in the air. They were called the
" New Orleans Tigers" They looked axe H.
Our school was broken up, for our teachers
were Northern ladies, and had 20 leave. How
would like TO know what has become OF
Misses Hattie and Emma Camp.
So had nothing 70 do those days but play
and amuse my little two-years old brother
was doing this now, sitting on the lower step oil
the broad fight that led up to the yeranda,
where the rest of the folks were sitting. Papa
was fCduihG "A paper hnh cuhNHthEs AN''-
looking very pale and sad, was trying TO sew,
but it was almost too dark. Sister was read
ing, and Bud was trying TO teach his dog TO
"lie down and die" which he didn't want TO
do al all. Suddenly we all heard the
TRAMP OF SOLDIERS FEET
coming up the street They had only been
soldiers few DAYS. so they didn't keep as per-
feet time rs ] heard them aiterward, but all
the same they called themselves soldiers. Then
they halted at our gate, and with clash and
clatter brought their guns down on the brick
walk. NV heart almost jumped out OF my
mouth, aud the baby did jumpOut of nay arms
left him sitting there and slipped down the
walk behind my father as he went to meet
them. ] was dreadfully scared, but wanted
to see what they were going TO do with my
papa.
very kindly.
With terrible oath one Of them answered !:
"Me want you, sir" and raised his gun as If TO
shoot. Whats TO keep me from blowing your
heart out nocf" he asked so fercely that i al
most screamed
But papa was as calm and cool as if in the
courtroom.
"Nothing in the world. John, il you want
TO do it," he said quietly. But just tell me
what ] have done2 held you on my knee
when Won were little boy. Surely, you won't
deny me the privilege of knowing what i am
TO be shot for ;"
John hung his head little at this, and an
other-for they seemed TO have no leader
took his place
"Didut you vote against secession the other
day in the conyentioEf"
Yes
Didn't you make speech against itH"
"Yes"
"Mell. is not that enough? We want no -
Iincolpites about here"
"Well. boys" papa said, "I have had "a
plead guilty TO your charges, and II you think
that is enough to shoot me for why will have
TO die. But you viii surely give me time tO
bid my
WIFE AND CHILDREN GooD-BY2"
These boys were not yet wholly hardened
and one who had not spoken before now said
"Well, Col. F., Ill tell you what We'll do
Well give YOU till tomorrow TO get away from
here or take the oath and join our army. i
you are still here, and still a LincOlnite, yoI
may know what 10 expect"
Very well WILL" he said, al am thankful
FOR that much quarter. Still, you know how
impossible il will be TO get away from here
with every road guarded, and know how i'm
possible it will be for me TO join your army
But j thank you for giving me until to-mor
row"
They went away then, and my father turnet
and saw that I had heard il all. He just caugh
me up in his arms aud held me close until w
reached the veranda. Then he placed me oi
the floor very gently and went in the house.
And let me tell you that was the last time
saw my papa for many day. he just wen
into that house and melted away, IL seemed {
me. Ii was several days before i discovere
where he was. But little pitchers have bi
ears" you know. and found out.
Then mamma took me in her room and talke
% me SO earnestly about not saying anythin
of IL 20 anybody, Just as IL j would j ie
hurt at mamma good while about that
You see 1t was this way. Our house was tw
stories high, but a wing had been built for
dining room and kitchen, which was only on
story high with loft or garret. This garre
came up even with one of the windows of th
second story Of the main building. The lowe
part Of this window had been taken out an
replaced with sliding door opening into Oh
garrett which when closed, looked exactly lik
the rest of the wall, that being ceiled.
And this garnet was where my father Ia
concealed for SO many weary days. / say lay
literally, for il was not high enough for him
stand upright, and Of night mamma won
darken the room from which the garret opene
and stand guard while he stretched his weal
limbs.
lie was getting old. and was a very larI
man, weighing over 200 pounds, and his positit
was certainly a hard one. Oh, how often
1retied ana declared he would not lie the
"like a rat IN cage, but go out and die like
man" Then mamma would remind him
his sick wife and helpless little children.
You see the only way OF escape TO the Uni'
lines was by long and dangerous tramp
night through the Cumberland Mountains al
this could ouly be made with guide. II
only guide papa know Of was now away lea
inga
BAND or UNION MEN Across,
and papa knew he must wait until his retui
If he lived 10 get back, which was by no mea
certain.
The next day the soldiers came back as tn
had said they would, and their wrath knew
bounds when mamma told them their prey v
gone. They declared il could not be-tl
every road was doubly guarded to prevent
escape. lie must be somewhere about
house. "Nery well, then" mamma told the
search IT," And they did, from top 10 botto
all except that garret which nobody knew al
thing about but the family. Mamma d
daped a long curtain over the door, pushe
bed against u, and they didn't think of al
thing being there.
30 they went off, swearing that they wOi
find him yet il lac was above ground. SeN
times during the month that followed u
searched that house, and were continue
coming IA on one errand or another, 80 we
10 be on our guard continually They could
get over the idea that he was hid someWh
about the house; and once. knowing that il
heard them he would come 10 her rescue d
suddenly placed their bayOnets against ma
mas breast aud told her they would shoot
IL she did not tell thom where her husband Y
She guessed at their object, and thankful {
they were not close enough for him to h,